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Stop Blocking Inner Refreshment

The following conditions will wear out the saints. Let me suggest some things to remedy if you want to open the door for the Holy Spirit to refresh your spirit. You will then be kept from being wore out from anxiety, complaining, resignation, bitterness, and apathy.

Even though the outer man gets wore out the inner man can be renewed day by day. (II Corinthins 4:16).

1. UNQUENCHED THIRST

God has placed a thirst in our soul that can only be satisfied by an intimate, personal up-to-date fellowship with Christ. Paul calls that fellowship – Knowing God. David set himself to get acquainted with God, and we are instructed in Scripture to grow or increase in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Intimate fellowship with God is the only source of the trust needed for faith to work in God’s power. Working to satisfy that thirst will be fruitless since only Jesus satisfied. The heart of Jesus faith was an “abba” relationship with His Father. We can only be refreshed when we drink of the Spirit of God (I Corinthians 12:13).

2. IGNORANCE OF OUR RESOURCES

If we tried to cut wood with a chain saw but were not told about the power in the motor we would soon be discouraged and frustrated from powerless labor. Unfortunately, after we lead a person to Christ we often put that person to work without informing him about all the riches of Grace (power) he has and how to access it (by Faith). We leave that person open to the devil to frustrate and wear him out with our emphasis on work. We need to teach how to apply the resources (Ephesians 1-3) before or along with the work (Ephesians). I like to visualize our resources as a lake call “Grace Lake. That lake is loaded with resources found in God’s Character, God’s promises, and our Identity. All of these have implications for our daily living. The power found in Grace Lake is sufficient for all of life and Godliness. We release, plug into, have access to that power when we exercise faith or trust in God

3. WORKING WITHOUT POWER We may have been duped into being so busy helping God that we haven’t noticed that the cord (faith) has fallen out of the power source (Grace). STOP! Your work is in vain. You need to renew your fellowship with Christ and review His Promises.

4. FAILURE TO “SEE” GOD WORKING

Scripture clearly tells us that God is working out His purposes and carrying out His Promises. Reviewing our failure and walking by sight may discourage us. We will be strengthened and encouraged if we start praising God for His marvelous works.

– Praise God for doing what He is and has promised even if you don’t see it or feel it! Example: Praise God for your future provision even though you have not received it yet (Hebrews 11:13). God is the Lord of hosts – Praise God for the mighty army of His angels who are fighting for us in the invisible world (consider Jericho).

– Tune in to “Good Reporters” (Philippians 4:8) Find people and publications that can “see” God at work. Cancel subscriptions to magazines that specialize in reporting all the bad news. God is doing a Great Work – open your eyes of faith and “See” (II Kings 6:13-34). Believe and you will see. Write down five great things that God is doing in your life, children, church whether you see it or feel it but just because He promised.

5. DOING SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK. Relax! You can’t handle every job that needs to be done. Identify your assignment and either delegate or eliminate the rest! Do this one thing or you’ll exhaust your energy accomplishing little and being distracted from maintaining your connection to the power source.

Don’t try to change lives, reprove, correct, prune, convict, convert, call, illuminate, assure or resurrect. Only God can do that! You’ll do it in the flesh because God does not give us power to do what only the Holy Spirit can do. We will get weary and discourage if we try to convert and convict. The results will not be of God.

Delegate some of your work and leave it there. Perfectionists never leave it delegated!

7. FAILURE TO WALK IN GOD’S WAYS When our living is contrary to God’s way we give the devil a place (Ephesians 4:29) to wear out the saints (Dn 7:25). The way of the Lord is strength to the upright (Proverbs 10:29). When we walk contrary to God’s ways we become weary and our spirit is cast down (Psalm 42). There are two ways you can walk – God’s way or the Devil’s way. God’s way is to give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18) and lifts our spirit. The Devil’s way is to murmur or complain which discourages. It is useless to ask God to strengthen us while we murmur. Stop complaining and start praising.

8. CLUTTERED LIVING

Simplify and clean out the garage. You are not home yet! Travel light! Have a yard sale. Reduce the maintenance items. Eliminate distractions, solve problems, and keep current.

9. SLOTHFUL THINKING (PROVERBS 28:1)

Correct yourself. See things as God sees them – success, good, adversity, love, and accidents. Encourage yourself in the Lord!

10. UNPREPARED HEART

Ezra prepared His heart for the ministry (Ezra 7:10). Paul and Moses spent years in heart preparation. Enduring and persevering people usually have the following experiences associated with their living: Broken, Refined, Abiding, crucified with Him, Risen with Him, Putting on the Armor of God.

Clear the Path for God’s refreshment of your spirit. Don’t let the devil wear out your spirit even though the outer man deteriorates.

Refreshment, Renewal, Revival is God’s Way

The following conditions will wear out the saints. Let me suggest some things to remedy if you want to open the door for the Holy Spirit to refresh your spirit. You will then be kept from being wore out from anxiety, complaining, resignation, bitterness, and apathy. Even though the outer man gets wore out the inner man can be renewed day by day. (II Corinthins 4:16).
1. UNQUENCHED THIRST God has placed a thirst in our soul that can only be satisfied by an intimate, personal up-to-date fellowship with Christ. Paul calls that fellowship – Knowing God. David set himself to get acquainted with God, and we are instructed in Scripture to grow or increase in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Intimate fellowship with God is the only source of the trust needed for faith to work in God’s power. Working to satisfy that thirst will be fruitless since only Jesus satisfied. The heart of Jesus faith was an “abba” relationship with His Father. We can only be refreshed when we drink of the Spirit of God (I Corinthians 12:13).
2. IGNORANCE OF OUR RESOURCESIf we tried to cut wood with a chain saw but were not told about the power in the motor we would soon be discouraged and frustrated from powerless labor. Unfortunately, after we lead a person to Christ we often put that person to work without informing him about all the riches of Grace (power) he has and how to access it (by Faith). We leave that person open to the devil to frustrate and wear him out with our emphasis on work. We need to teach how to apply the resources (Ephesians 1-3) before or along with the work (Ephesians). I like to visualize our resources as a lake call “Grace Lake. That lake is loaded with resources found in God’s Character, God’s promises, and our Identity. All of these have implications for our daily living. The power found in Grace Lake is sufficient for all of life and Godliness. We release, plug into, have access to that power when we exercise faith or trust in God 3. WORKING WITHOUT POWER We may have been duped into being so busy helping God that we haven’t noticed that the cord (faith) has fallen out of the power source (Grace). STOP! Your work is in vain. You need to renew your fellowship with Christ and review His Promises.
4. FAILURE TO “SEE” GOD WORKINGScripture clearly tells us that God is working out His purposes and carrying out His Promises. Reviewing our failure and walking by sight may discourage us. We will be strengthened and encouraged if we start praising God for His marvelous works.
– Praise God for doing what He is and has promised even if you don’t see it or feel it! Example: Praise God for your future provision even though you have not received it yet (Hebrews 11:13). God is the Lord of hosts – Praise God for the mighty army of His angels who are fighting for us in the invisible world (consider Jericho).
– Tune in to “Good Reporters” (Philippians 4:8) Find people and publications that can “see” God at work. Cancel subscriptions to magazines that specialize in reporting all the bad news. God is doing a Great Work – open your eyes of faith and “See” (II Kings 6:13-34). Believe and you will see. Write down five great things that God is doing in your life, children, church whether you see it or feel it but just because He promised.
5. DOING SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK. Relax! You can’t handle every job that needs to be done. Identify your assignment and either delegate or eliminate the rest! Do this one thing or you’ll exhaust your energy accomplishing little and being distracted from maintaining your connection to the power source.
Don’t try to change lives, reprove, correct, prune, convict, convert, call, illuminate, assure or resurrect. Only God can do that! You’ll do it in the flesh because God does not give us power to do what only the Holy Spirit can do. We will get weary and discourage if we try to convert and convict. The results will not be of God.
Delegate some of your work and leave it there. Perfectionists never leave it delegated! 6. NON-BIBLICAL EXPECTATIONS Limit your expectations to God’s promises. Bitterness is the results of expectations not met.
7. FAILURE TO WALK IN GOD’S WAYS When our living is contrary to God’s way we give the devil a place (Ephesians 4:29) to wear out the saints (Dn 7:25). The way of the Lord is strength to the upright (Proverbs 10:29). When we walk contrary to God’s ways we become weary and our spirit is cast down (Psalm 42). There are two ways you can walk – God’s way or the Devil’s way. God’s way is to give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18) and lifts our spirit. The Devil’s way is to murmur or complain which discourages. It is useless to ask God to strengthen us while we murmur. Stop complaining and start praising.
8. CLUTTERED LIVINGSimplify and clean out the garage. You are not home yet! Travel light! Have a yard sale. Reduce the maintenance items. Eliminate distractions, solve problems, and keep current.
9. SLOTHFUL THINKING (PROVERBS 28:1)Correct yourself. See things as God sees them – success, good, adversity, love, and accidents. Encourage yourself in the Lord!
10. UNPREPARED HEART Ezra prepared His heart for the ministry (Ezra 7:10). Paul and Moses spent years in heart preparation. Enduring and persevering people usually have the following experiences associated with their living: Broken, Refined, Abiding, crucified with Him, Risen with Him, Putting on the Armor of God. Clear the Path for God’s refreshment of your spirit. Don’t let the devil wear out your spirit even though the outer man deteriorates.
Refreshment, Renewal, Revival is God’s Way